Happy 250th Birthday, America!

July 4, 2026

Hey everyone!

In honor of America’s 250th birthday, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on this remarkable milestone.

It’s hard to believe that I remember living through the Bicentennial celebration as if it were yesterday. I was eleven years old and can still vividly remember what I was doing and how it felt to be part of such a historic occasion. As a child, I certainly wasn’t as philosophical about the meaning behind our nation’s hard-fought independence, but even then, I understood that it was something truly significant.

Fifty years later, I find myself reflecting on that time with a deep sense of nostalgia. The world felt very different then, and in many ways, so did our country. While life seemed simpler in certain respects, society could also be far less accepting of those who didn’t fit neatly within its expectations.

For me, one of the greatest differences between then and now is the freedom I have today to live openly as myself. We certainly face challenges as a nation that we couldn’t have imagined back then, but I’ve also witnessed remarkable progress. The ability to embrace my life authentically is something I never take for granted.

Perhaps that’s why this anniversary resonates with me on such a personal level. America’s story has always been one of striving toward the ideals of liberty and freedom. My own journey has been much smaller, of course, but it has also been about finding the courage to live honestly and authentically. In that way, celebrating 250 years of American independence feels especially meaningful.

Happy Fourth of July to everyone!

Be safe, be happy, and always be true to yourselves.

— Chris